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Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember15 Jan 2020, 11:08 am AEDT

Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

The discussion has started, scroll down and keep refreshing your browser to see responses, and keep and eye on the page numbers as there is only 10 posts per page, then a new page will be created.

This event is open for everyone: for people with a direct experience of mental health issues as well as family, friends, loved ones and carers.

A range of impacts across the country

Ringing in 2020 might have felt confronting, complicated or downright tough for Australians as we have all felt/watched/been impacted by the current unprecedented bushfires across multiple states. Between being either close, directly in line with the fires or watching through the media - we want to use this online Forums event to talk as a community through the feelings around this as well as strategies to manage now and address the medium to long term impact these kind of events can have.

Online discussion with a mental health professional

We will have the wonderful @Daphne returning as our special guest who is a counsellor at SANE Australia and leads our counselling team both clinically and operationally. @Daphne has extensive experience as a counsellor in the mental health sector and has worked with both people whom live with mental health issues and their carers or family and friends.

Content warning & further support

Please be aware that this discussion could be triggering relating to trauma and PTSD. SANE Australia is committed to supporting people navigate the lasting impacts of the bushfire crisis and other traumatic events.

For access to ongoing support, the Australian Government has recently announced a mental health support package for people affected by the bushfires. If you have been affected by recent bushfire events and would like to access these supports you can call the Australian Government bushfire disaster assistance line on 180 22 66 or visit: https://www.lifeinmindaustralia.com.au/mental-health-support-for-bushfire-affected-communities.

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I'm new here - what is Topic Tuesday?

Topic Tuesday runs from 7pm - 9pm AEST monthly. Each month we focus on a different topic, with the session facilitated by a Community Manager or Moderator. Sometimes Topic Tuesday will feature a special guest, who is an expert in the topic.

The first post of the thread (this one) will give you an idea of what the topic is and what will be covered.

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Topic Tuesday takes place right here! It's text based, so no software is needed. During the session, to keep up with the latest posts hit the 'refresh' button on your browser for the latest posts (it doesn't automatically update). Keep an eye for page numbers at the top & bottom of the page, and jump to the highest page number for the most recent post.

Throughout the session, the facilitator will put questions out for you to answer, usually asking for your own experience on the topic. To contribute to the session, just hit the 'reply' button and share your thoughts. No answers are right or wrong and everyone is welcome to get involved.

What time does this event start in my timezone?

AEDT- 7pm
AEST- 6pm
ACDT- 6:30pm
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In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 7:59 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

How frustrating and annoying @Adge that you're setting really clear boundaries and people aren't able to be sensitive to your request. I hope you're feeling better soon 🙂

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

CheerBearSenior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:02 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Nightmares are a sign my mental health might be being impacted @Former-Member, particularly ones of being trapped or not being able to escape something. Sensing danger when there isn't at the time is another. I noticed this while spending time over Christmas in a bush kind of place I go to often. There were lots of times I just wanted to get out and quickly without any real need to. It teetered on panic at times.

Thanks for validating that @Former-Member. I've heard a couple of other people say things that hint at those guilty feelings too.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:03 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

@Adge That's really difficult. Often people will judge what they think they see and understand but it sounds like your family etc don't really understand what's happening for you internally, the impact on you and what they can't see. Give yourself permission to look after you and know what's right for you. Sometimes as hard it is, we have to detach from what we experience as judgement from others.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:04 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

You're welcome @CheerBear 🙂

I'm sorry too to hear that you've been experiencing nightmares and yes, they would be a clear sign that you weren't feeling safe. Do you have any sleep hygiene strategies to help calm your mind and body before you go to bed?

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Joy139Casual Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:05 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Hi all. This is my first time on any forum so please excuse me if I'm not doing this right.
I worked in Ash Wednesday as a very green policewoman and had quite a response to our recent bushfires. I had to walk away from social media and the telly for a few days to try my best to gather myself and put the poker face back on...not the best strategy (the poker face) but that is what I had learned to do over many years without realising it. I have been having counselling for old traumas, including the fires, which for me has been the best thing I have done for decades.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:07 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

@CheerBear How frightening, I hope you were able to do what you needed to feel safe again.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

CheerBearSenior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:08 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

I have chronic insomnia @Former-Member. I could write a book on sleep hygiene strategies (that don't work for me 😉). I try and limit caffeine, create a safe and cosy space in my room (dim light, fluffy stuff on my bed etc) and not clock-watch. They're probably the most helpful for me.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:09 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Hi @Joy139 and welcome - you have done a wonderful job to join us here in the forums for the first time and you have posted perfectly. You can also use the @ symbol to tag people.

Thank you for sharing what your experiences have been. Having experiences on the frontline, I can only imagine how hard that would be. It is so hard to balance that need to step away from everything (poker face) versus connecting with support and acknowledging what you are working through now in counselling which is so strong. I am glad it is going well and to hear how great that has been.

In response to: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

greenspaceSenior Contributor28 Jan 2020, 8:10 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

I've been feeling lots of different things -- panicky about friends who live in Lithgow and in the Blue Mountains who had mega-fires within a few kays of their homes.

Sympathy for friends with asthma who couldn't leave their homes because of the smoke. I don't have asthma, and I had headaches and nausea for most of December from fires in the area, even though they were 40 or 50 km away.

Heartbroken and devasted hearing about the hundreds of millions of birds, marsupials, reptiles, killed or injured in the fires.

Touched by seeing news of the rescue organisations giving medical care to those injured creatures, and doing food drops for the survivors in the burnt zones.

Motivated and grateful that I'm able to donate a bit of money to the RFS, and to WIRES, Wildlife Victoria, and smaller rescue organisations.

Furious with politicians and mainstream media for denying the connection between the ferocity of the fires and climate change -- though at least some pollies and some news sources are acknowledging it, and admitting that this situation was predicted and modelled accurately by climate scientists 12 years ago.

Overwhelmed and exhausted, grateful that I haven't been in danger, guilty about being glad I'm safe when others have lost homes or family...

I have shingles, that nasty outbreak of blisters that is like a recurrence of chickenpox brought out by stress. Not sure if the main stressor is the last few months of bushfires, or knowing that my NDIS plan reviewis in two weeks.

In response to: Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

Unknown userMember28 Jan 2020, 8:11 pm AEDT

Re: Topic Tuesday // Your mental health and the recent bushfires // Tues 28 Jan, 7pm AEST

@Joy139 I think it's really important to do what is right and safe for you. It's so good to hear that you have sort counselling and you know what your limits are. Walking away doesn't mean you don't care or is not a sign of weakness but means you are taking responsibility for your own well-being. I'm glad you have joined the conversation.

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